Breanna Lucci says Anthony Cousin’s horror short is cute, funny, and a deliciously satisfying gory short.
This blue and pink pastel-splattered 1970s-themed horror short does not lie: it is explosive. Based on the 2016 Novella, “Every Time We Meet at the Dairy Queen, Your Whole Fucking Face Explodes” by Carlton Mellick III, the award-winning author of Sweet Story and The Haunted Vagina. Directed and written by Anthony Cousins, it stars Arden Michalec, Logan Schuneman, and Alexander Michuda.
The new girl in school (Michalec) has strange scars on her forehead and cheeks, prompting her classmates to mock her viciously. A quiet boy (Schuneman) is instantly drawn to her bright eyes and kind smile. He innocently writes a note with two check boxes, one for “Yes” and one for “No.” Will you be my girlfriend? With a gleeful smile and a prick of her finger, she stamps the check box for “Yes” with blood, leaving a small heart behind. The two meet for ice cream, where things get bloody in the best possible way. This short gives just enough information to allow the audience to ponder the story’s meaning. Is it to discuss childhood innocence, cruelty, love, or perhaps a metaphor for sexual awakening?
Regardless of the film’s intended message, Every Time We Meet for Ice Cream Your Whole Fucking Face Explodes approaches complex concepts with the purity of heart. It’s reflected in color saturation, clothing, and set design. It’s cute, funny, aesthetically pleasing, and a deliciously satisfying gory short.
Every Time We Meet for Ice Cream Your Whole Fucking Face Explodes was screened at the Chattanooga Film Festival as part of the WTF (Watch These Films) - Strange and Magical Shorts Showcase.
